A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending the 25th Birthday Gala for style maven and entrepreneur Angela Simmons. Amazing, right? There was only one problem – it was a black tie event. In my 30 years of existence it finally dawned on me – I had never been to a black tie event before!
Black tie is a dress code for evening events and considered to be more formal than your everyday business attire. But I was still confused. Do I get my Diddy on? Do I wear a suit? Is a black tie an absolute must? Can I thug out my tux in Adidas like Uncle Russ? And to add to my frustrations, I was notified that both Young Jeezy and Wacka Flocka were hosting black tie events in Atlanta to celebrate this year’s BET Hip Hop Awards. This was getting serious.
It appeared as if overnight black tie events had become the new black, and I needed to prepare myself. If the black tie event was the new Hip-Hop staple, I needed to do some research. After consulting some experts, Google, Jesus and celebrity stylist June Ambrose, I got some great tips for making an impression at a black tie event.
Gentlemen
Traditionally for men, the elements of black tie attire include a suit, black or midnight blue, where the jacket lapels are of silk or other contrasting material, a white dress shirt, a black bow tie (black traditional ties are sure to make you stand out like a sore thumb, this is not the place you want to be ‘different’) an evening waistcoat or cummerbund, and black dress shoes.
If you want to go for a non-traditional look, you’ll want to stick as closely to the dark colors as possible. Although a tie is not mandatory, a white shirt is and must be accompanied by a blazer. If you decide to go with a lighter blazer, make sure your pants and shoes are a darker color.
Ladies
Black tie attire for women has varied greatly through the years; traditionally, it was ankle or mid-calf length sleeveless dresses, often accompanied by a wrap or gloves, and evening shoes. In today’s fashion climate, this will surely look costume-like and lead to mixed reactions.
Today, cocktail or knee length dresses are considered appropriate for women. Sleeves are not frowned upon, but dresses too high above the knee may look awkward. Think more Devil Wears Prada and less Pretty Woman. And in the spirit of truly standing out, some female celebrities, like June Ambrose and Ellen Degeneres, have actually rocked their own feminine version of a gentlemen’s tuxedo. But fellas, leave the dresses alone, please.
With these tips and you’ll definitely shine at your next black tie affair. Keep in mind that traditional is safe and non-traditional will step your presence up a notch.
